Georges Rouault (1871-1958) Le Clown assis, Vieux clown (Seated Clown, The old Clown), from Andre Suarez, Cirque (Circus) Aquatint and etching over photogravure printed in colours, 1930, on Montval laid paper, from the set of eight aquatints (there were also 20 wood-engravings in the book), from the total edition of 270 Plate: 32.6 x 23 cm Provenance: Sothebys, London, 1976 Literature: Chapon/Rouault 202; Wofsy 208; cf. Johnson 202 Rouaults early training as a maker of stained glass appears to have had a lasting effect on his art, with the colours divided by strong black outlines. The artist was fascinated by circus people, often depicting them back-stage. He wrote of an old clown he had seen: I saw clearly that the Clown was me, was us&almost all of us&.This rich, sequinned costume is given us by life . Cirque was to be published by Ambroise Vollard but was not complete at Vollards death